Write your own payloads¶

Payloads are short Arduino sketches that use the DigiKeyboard library to type keystrokes. Make sure you've finished Set up your computer first.

How uploading works¶

This part trips most people up the first time, so here's the order:

Unplug your device.
Open your sketch and click Upload (the → arrow).
Wait for the message at the bottom: Plug in device now... (will timeout in 60 seconds)
Now plug in your device.
Wait a few seconds for Micronucleus done. Thank you!, and you're done.

Warning

If you plug the device in before clicking Upload, it runs its current payload on your computer. If that payload is the rickroll, you'll get rickrolled. Ask us how we know.

Your first payload: hello world¶

This opens Notepad on Windows and types a message. Paste it into a new sketch and upload it:

#include "DigiKeyboard.h"

void setup() {
  DigiKeyboard.sendKeyStroke(0);       // wake up the computer's keyboard driver
  DigiKeyboard.delay(2000);            // give Windows time to recognize the "keyboard"

  DigiKeyboard.sendKeyStroke(KEY_R, MOD_GUI_LEFT);  // Win+R opens the Run dialog
  DigiKeyboard.delay(600);
  DigiKeyboard.print("notepad");
  DigiKeyboard.sendKeyStroke(KEY_ENTER);
  DigiKeyboard.delay(1000);

  DigiKeyboard.println("Hello from my PhreakBoutique device!");
}

void loop() {
  // Nothing here, so the payload runs once per plug-in
}

Now unplug the device and plug it back in. Notepad opens and the message types itself.

The building blocks¶

Code	What it does
`DigiKeyboard.print("text")`	Types text
`DigiKeyboard.println("text")`	Types text and presses Enter
`DigiKeyboard.sendKeyStroke(KEY_ENTER)`	Presses a single key
`DigiKeyboard.sendKeyStroke(KEY_R, MOD_GUI_LEFT)`	Presses a key combo (here, `Win`+`R`)
`DigiKeyboard.delay(1000)`	Waits 1 second. Use this instead of `delay()`

On macOS, Spotlight is DigiKeyboard.sendKeyStroke(KEY_SPACE, MOD_GUI_LEFT) (Cmd+Space).

Get inspired¶

The community has written hundreds of payloads. Browse, read, and adapt them:

CedArctic/DigiSpark-Scripts: a big collection of example payloads for this exact hardware.

To use one, open the .ino file in the Arduino IDE, check that the board is set to Digispark (Default - 16.5mhz), and follow the upload steps above.

Always read a payload before you run it

Some community payloads do destructive things on purpose. Know what a script does before you upload it.

Want the rickroll back?¶

Email us and we'll send you the sketch.

Please read Use it responsibly. Keystroke injection on machines you don't own is illegal, even as a joke.